460 Bertri’s Village

460.

Arbeni led the way through the dense trees. A narrow path between the thickly packed trees. I could hardly tell if it was a path at all. After walking along such a path for a while, a relatively wide space appeared.

In the center of that space stood a tree that boasted an overwhelming size compared to the other trees. Within a certain radius around the tree, there were only small trees of about 2 meters. Perhaps the reason for this appearance is that this tree alone monopolizes the nutrients in the soil.

Hmm, is this the village of the elves?

Elves are visible. The elves were sitting on the branches of the trees, as if riding on the shoulders of giants. While I was looking at them, the elves were also looking at Arbeni and us following behind. They had startled rabbit eyes, unfamiliar with strangers.

Roughly speaking, there didn’t seem to be any elves as old as Arbeni. A male elf jumped down from the tree and approached Arbeni.

“Chief Arbeni-nim, who are these people…?”

“Ah, aah, Root. This person is, well, they say they’re a Hero-nim. They said they have something to ask us…”

“A Hero, you say…? Could that loud noise from earlier be…”

The elf called Root scanned me up and down. With wary eyes. He seems to have noticed that I am the culprit who destroyed the forest.

“We are the Bertri, who cherish peace and live in this forest as our home. We have lived in isolation from the outside world for a long time. We hardly know what’s going on in the world. But what on earth…”

“Hmm, it’s a long story to explain… First, please gather all the villagers.”

Root looked at Arbeni with uneasy eyes. When Arbeni nodded silently, Root gestured for the elves on the tree to come down.

All the elves came down. There weren’t that many of them. If based on a human village, it was a number that was difficult to call a village. Not even twenty. Thanks to being elves, they were all handsome and beautiful, except for Arbeni.

I stood in front of them. The first thing to ask was decided.

“Are you the ones who worship Utranag?

“That’s right. We have lived worshiping Utranag-nim as our guardian deity since before I was even born. But is that a problem or something?”

What Genfu told me came to mind. There are various religions in Aiolia, and among them are those who worship Utranag. These Bertri are the ones who worship that Utranag.

The elves in the village were wary of Riel, who was wearing a nun’s habit. Perhaps they are guessing that she has come to forcibly convert them to the Eustea Church.

Well, depending on the case, I may have to make them give up their faith, even if it’s not proselytizing.

“If, if this is just a hypothetical, what would you do if there was a possibility that the Utranag you worship would descend to the earth? Would you cooperate if there was someone with that goal? Or, perhaps, are you already cooperating?”

Maybe they’re already in cahoots with Leia. I was preparing to fight in my heart. But Arbeni shook his head violently and said.

“Absolutely not! Utranag-nim is a god who enriches the earth from the underground and grows all kinds of life. According to the scriptures, if Utranag-nim comes to the surface, that grace will turn into a curse. The earth will dry up and crack, and the green forest will be filled with poison that rots life.”

“Really?”

“I swear it’s true. Did you say if? If there is someone with such an unholy purpose, we will never cooperate! I swear on our faith!”

The surrounding elves nodded in agreement. Blade, who was listening to the story, stepped forward and said.

“Can I check? That scripture, I mean.”

“Of course, I don’t mind showing it to you… But can you read it? It’s written in old Elvish.”

“No problem.”

With those words, Blade released the head parts of the Black Armor. Shining golden hair tied up in the back, long ears, and a beautiful face were revealed.

All elves are beautiful, but I can see that Blade is exceptional even among them. The elves in the village were also casting envious glances at Blade.

“Hmm… It’s my first time seeing an elf who isn’t a Bertri. Okay, I’ll be happy to show you. The scriptures that are the pride of our Bertri.”

There was a door on the huge tree that rose in the center of the village. Inside, following Arbeni, was filled with the strong smell of oak. We went up the stairs made using the inside of the tree without using any other materials.

“Here it is.”

Apparently, this huge tree is a religious facility for the elves in this village. Where Arbeni took us, there was something like an altar prepared. And on top of it, a strange object was placed.

It seemed to be made by baking clay in a fire. I couldn’t tell exactly what it was depicting. Due to the nature of these artifacts, which have a lot of omission and simplification, most of the detailed shapes were blurred. The only thing I can say for sure is that it has many legs.

It feels like a very old object. I thought that it might have been made long before the elves settled here and had faith in Utranag.

While I was examining the object, Arbeni took out an old book from behind the altar. This one also looked old, but it didn’t seem to be as old as Arbeni, at least.

“Would you like to read it? But please handle it carefully.”

“I will.”

Blade, who received the scripture, began to read it, delicately turning the pages. It was only the size of a booklet, so it didn’t take long. After several tens of minutes, Blade closed the last chapter.

“It seems like there are no lies in what Arbeni said. At least, according to the scriptures.”

“Really?”

Then I think it’s okay to believe what they say for now. It’s ridiculous to think that they predicted we were coming and prepared such elaborate forgery.

“Yes, it seems like your suspicion has eased a little. Then, Hero-nim, would you tell us too? Is it true that there is someone trying to bring Utranag-nim to the surface, as you said earlier?”

“Yes, it’s a sorceress named Leia. She has the appearance of a little girl… Has she ever been here?”

“Leia, Leia, you say… No, I don’t know. Most of the people who come here wander through the Belt Forest, and we just put them to sleep and send them back to the entrance of the forest…”

Ugh, the clue I almost caught… It feels like I’m back to square one.

Riel was looking at the object I was looking at earlier with fascination. And she asked innocently.

“Chieftain-nim, is this the shape of Utranag-nim?”

“Haha, that’s right. ‘The one who runs underground with countless legs.’ It is also another name for Utranag-nim. Don’t you feel reverent just by looking at it?”

Hmm, is that so…? It just looks like a slightly unpleasant object to me.

“Was this made in this village?”

“No, I also heard the story from my grandfather, but he said it was found inside this giant tree. I don’t know how it looks to you, but it is a precious item in our faith.”

Well, if they say so, then that’s how it is.

As I was about to leave that place, Riel pulled on my sleeve. And she whispered in a small voice in my ear.

“Hero-nim, that statue is probably a real relic. I can feel that it is directly connected to a deep, deep underground existence. Maybe Selina-ssi’s goal is that object. Unless there is a more important target than me in this forest.”

“Really?”

Riel nodded with a serious face. I stroked her head a lot as a sign of praise, and we came down from the giant tree.

“Arbeni, I apologize for destroying the forest. The reason I came here is because someone who wants Utranag’s descent might appear in this forest. So, would it be okay if I stayed here for a while?”

From their point of view, I might be a sudden intruder who trampled on their livelihood. If I was rejected, I was about to set up a camp nearby. But Arbeni surprisingly smiled and said willingly.

“If that’s the case, our Bertri can’t help but cooperate. Please stay as long as you like. However, you can’t eat free meals, so you’ll have to help with some chores.”

“What kind of chores?”

“We live by relying on the grace of the forest. Picking mushrooms or wild strawberries, defeating monsters that occasionally appear, clearing fallen leaves, well, that’s enough.”

“Well, if it’s something like that…”

It seems that the only thing that suits my aptitude among them is monster extermination. Well, I can do the rest if I just try.

Now that I knew that Selina’s goal was the statue in this village, I felt a little relieved. Anyway, if I wait here, I can meet Selina again.

At that time, someone approached us. It was the young elf named Root that I saw earlier.

He was holding a flower carved from wood in his hand. He held it out to Blade in a very polite, even nervous, posture.

“What, are you giving it? To me?”

“Yes, will you accept it?”

Blade inadvertently accepted it.

“It’s an elaborate craftsmanship, but it’s just a wooden craft. Hmm, the scent of wood isn’t bad. But why are you giving me this?”

Blade tilted his head. On the other hand, Root clenched his fist tightly with a face full of emotion, as if he had done it. Before I knew it, the surrounding elves were all applauding him.

“What, what is it, this wooden flower, what’s going on?”

“Hmm, you have now accepted Root’s proposal. This is truly a cause for celebration. To see a new couple being born in this village before I die.”

“Huh?”

It is rare for the always calm Blade to make such an absurd expression. But I couldn’t savor that rare experience. Because I was making almost the same face.